WILLIAMSTOWN — It is a pretty big weekend for the Williams College men’s hockey team.

The Ephs host Wesleyan and Trinity with a pair of victories likely locking up a spot in the NESCAC postseason tournament. But when the Ephs and Cardinals skate at Lansing Chapman Rink Friday night, a hockey team won’t be the only winner.

Williams will host a Shooting for the Stars night, in conjunction with the school’s Make-a-Wish Foundation club.

Williams defenseman Bobby Corkery said he and teammate Mason Chen helped get the Williams Make-a-Wish Foundation club started on campus, and that ultimately led to the game Friday at 7 p.m.

“We started last spring because every single time we went and played in an away game, we were playing in some sort of charity event, whether it was a teddy bear toss or even like the Citrus Bowl at Hamilton,” Corkery said. “We felt like anytime we played home, we didn’t have any events going on and nothing like charity related. We wanted to start something for charity.”

In an interview with The Eagle, Corkery said he reached out to Make-a-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island to get the ball rolling.

“It actually all came together in this past month,” he said. “I told coach [Bill Kangas] about the idea early in the season and he got back to me in early January and was like ‘Are we going to do this game?’ I said yes, let’s do it.”

Corkery said the club has been working with Make-a-Wish Community Partnerships Coordinator Caroline Craig to help get the ball rolling. In addition, Rodney Meissner, Williams’ manager of athletic equipment services, helped with the procurement of special sweaters to be worn in the game.

“We kind of got everything together with Rodney, who is our equipment manager and got some jerseys ordered. Cumberland Farms was nice enough to sponsor the jerseys,” Corkery said. “We have custom jerseys coming in. We’re looking forward to rocking those.

“We’re going to auction the jerseys off during the game in a silent auction format, with all of the proceeds going to Make-a-Wish.”

Money will also be raised with a 50-50 drawing, and a chuck-a-puck contest. 

In addition, Cumberland Farms is providing 200 coffee/cold drink tumblers to the first 200 fans that get into the rink.

Corkery said social media posts have gone out. The Make-a-Wish Foundation club is a registered organization on the Williams campus, and has some 100 members, who are also spreading the word. Corkery said there should be some good buzz for the game.

“It means something personally to me too. I went to a Catholic school for high school before I went to Phillips Andover,” said Corkery, who attended Bishop Hendricken in Warwick, R.I. Bishop Hendricken is also the alma mater of current Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.

“Being at that Catholic school, being charitable and being a philanthropist was part of my education,” Corkery said. “I felt like that was a missing piece for me in the last few years, going to Andover and eventually coming to Williams. I just felt like those charitable ways, those ways of giving back, were lacking. I just wanted to use my platform as an athlete on the hockey team to bring something good for the community, good for Make-a-Wish.”